🖥️ Nice Class 42: IT, Software & SaaS
With 550,754 trademarks, Class 42 is the third-largest Nice class in the EUIPO register and home to software, SaaS and IT services (as of July 2026). (as of July 2026).
550,754
Marks in the EU register
289,725
Registered with the EUIPO
+24 %
Growth 2020–2024
57 %
Word mark share
Class 42 is the tech class of the Nice Classification: it covers scientific and technological services, software development and SaaS. The EUIPO register holds 550,754 trademarks in Class 42, of which 289,725 are registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data). That makes it the third-largest of all 45 classes, and no other major class is growing faster. The numbers clearly reflect the software boom: new registrations in Class 42 rose from 25,038 in 2020 to 31,068 in 2024, an increase of 24 percent. In 2025 the level stayed high at 30,433 new registrations. Interestingly, the top filer is not a US giant but Deutsche Telekom with 1,448 trademarks, ahead of IBM (850), Microsoft (616), Huawei (596) and Amazon (541). If you are launching an app, a platform or a SaaS product, there is hardly a way around Class 42.
What belongs in Class 42?
Class 42 covers services, not products: scientific and technological services, research and development, engineering, and the whole field of IT services. The key question is whether you provide a service rather than sell goods. Typical examples: SaaS and cloud-based software, software development and maintenance, hosting and cloud services, IT consulting, AI and data analysis services, research services, plus web design and UX design. One important distinction: downloadable software and apps count as goods and belong in Class 9, while pure telecommunications services fall under Class 38.
Typical examples: SaaS, software development, hosting, IT services, AI/research, design
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 42
Most active applicants in Class 42
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deutsche Telekom Ag | 1,448 |
| 2 | International Business Machines Corporation | 850 |
| 3 | Microsoft Corporation | 616 |
| 4 | Huawei Technologies Co Ltd | 596 |
| 5 | Amazon Technologies Inc | 541 |
| 6 | Google Llc | 537 |
| 7 | Apple Inc | 486 |
| 8 | Intesa Sanpaolo Spa | 419 |
| 9 | Boehringer Ingelheim International Gmbh | 389 |
| 10 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | 366 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
Class 42 rarely stands alone: in practice it is most often combined with Class 9 (downloadable software and apps), Class 35 (advertising, retail, platform services) and Class 41 (training and online courses). Check before filing which of these building blocks your business model actually needs, because the list of goods and services cannot be extended later. On the type of mark: 57 percent of trademarks in Class 42 are word marks, so in tech the name itself is the key asset. And since the class is both huge and fast-growing, a thorough similarity search in the register before filing is well worth it.
Common mistakes with Class 42
The most common mistake: SaaS providers file only in Class 9 or Class 35 and skip Class 42. Their actual online service then remains unprotected, and a competitor can claim the same name exactly where it matters. Second classic error: overly broad terms in the list of goods and services. Filing just "software" invites objections and leaves the scope of protection vague; specific wording such as "software as a service for accounting" works better. Third, many founders confuse marketing with technology: online advertising and retail services belong in Class 35, not Class 42, even when everything happens digitally.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in Nice Class 42?
Class 42 covers scientific and technological services: software development, SaaS, hosting, cloud services, IT consulting, AI and research services, and web design. The defining feature is the service character. Downloadable software and apps count as goods and belong in Class 9 instead.
How crowded is Class 42?
Very. With 550,754 trademarks, 289,725 of them registered, Class 42 is the third-largest Nice class in the EUIPO register (as of July 2026). New registrations grew from 25,038 in 2020 to 31,068 in 2024, a 24 percent increase and the strongest growth among the major classes. A thorough search before filing matters here more than almost anywhere else.
Word mark or figurative mark for a software company?
In Class 42, 57 percent of all trademarks are word marks, noticeably more than in many other classes. That fits the industry: with software, it is the name that gets searched, linked and recommended. A word mark protects that name in any styling, and a logo can be registered separately later.
Which classes are typically combined with Class 42?
Most often Class 9 for downloadable software and apps, Class 35 for advertising, retail and platform services, and Class 41 for training and online courses. A SaaS provider with a mobile app and an academy covers the typical protection gaps with 42, 9 and 41. The right combination depends on your specific business model.
Sources
EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office: register data on EU trade marks and international registrations with EU protection, as of July 2026.
WIPO – Nice Classification: class definitions and headings (11th edition).
Methodology: own analysis by markencheck.ai; counted per filing entity, name variants merged.
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